In the mid fiftes Bruce Seton starred as Fabian in a Television series ‘Fabian of Scotland Yard’ and the exciting opening sequence had Inspector Fabian seated in the rear seat of a Humber Hawk with a microphone to his mount saying in a terse voice ‘ This is Fabian – Of Scotland Yard’

Shot on film (rather than transmitted live from the studio as was the norm at the time) with Bruce Seton, stiff upper lip clamped on a pipe, as the dedicated Fabian

ABOVE – Bruce Seton as Fabian of Scotland Yard

Now I mention the car being the Humber Hawk and I was reminded of this whilst at a local Agricultural Show today, seeing, among the Vintage Cars arena, a Humber Super Snipe – but a convertible – a car I have never seen before.

1 9 5 4 – 1 9 5 6 (UK)
39 x 30 minute episodes

This legendary British police show from the 1950s – fictionalised cases of Scotland Yard’s real-life Detective Inspector Fabian.

Originally transmitted in the popular Saturday night slot, Fabian of the Yard was later moved to Wednesday – I do recall it in the mid week slot

The show was sold to America, where it was screened as Inspector Fabian of Scotland Yard or – in reference to the hero’s black Humber Hawk – Patrol Car.

A few episodes were edited together to make feature-length productions released in cinemas: Fabian Of The Yard (1954) and Handcuffs, London (1955).

Bruce Seton died, aged 60, in September 1969 at his home in London after a period of ill health. 

I liked Bruce Seton – and liked him as Fabian – and I always think that he should have had a much more high profile career than he did

An agngel flying over a Devon village is shot down by the local vicar – who only wings him – and so the angel takes up residence in the Vicarage and during his stay in the village observes so much !!

This is from an H G Wells story and was produced as the Sunday Play and broadcast ‘live’ on Sunday 3 February 1952 and repeated the following Thursday – again ‘live’

Kenneth Williams – then a straight actor took the role as The Angel

Because I was so young when this was transmitted I cannot recall much about it although I do recall seeing it.

Since starting to write this post, I have managed to purchase the BBC Radio play of ‘The Wonderful Visit’ and have listened to it so now know the story well.

When the angel is shot down, he ends up residing at the Vicarage where the Vicar starts to understand just who he is – realising that he is indeed an angel but the Doctor who treats him is much more sceptical. Eventually though he is taken aback by the speed the angel’s wings heal, but still is not friendly.

The Angel unnerves the villagers with one exception – a young local maid called Delia who falls in love with him.

The other villagers prove to be cruel towards him. The angel cannot believe how unpleasant the world of humans can be but his love of Delia is such a saving grace

The ending is tragic and yet, happy in that the angel and Delia are together forever.

I did really like ‘The Wonderful Visit’ written by H G Wells

Every so often I seem to come across more details on this one of my favourite films.

Starting on Monday 28 April 1952 this BBC Radio presentation of the Disney ‘Robin Hood’ went out on BBC Radio The Light Programme in FIVE daily half hour episodes finishing on 1 May 2026

Much of it consisted of scenes and music from the film

Richard Todd and Joan Rice appeared along with Elton Hayes and many of the cast BUT Donald Gray was brought in as Little John – so the loud voice of James Robertson Justice was out – he apparently had other work on or so he said – and Susan Richards played Queen Eleanor in the absence of the wonderful Martita Hunt.

The Production was titled ‘The Adventures of Robin Hood’ and this was broadcast just about the time that the film went out on General Release – a term that many of us are familiar with because once a film Premiere had taken place it usually took up to 6 weeks before it was showing in Lincolnshire where I live

I remember going to the local cinema to see this film – The Maverick Queen. I often get this film mixed up with another Barbara Stanwyck film a couple of years earlier ‘Cattle Queen of Montana’ with Ronald Reagan for RKO Pictures

Directed by Joe Kane
Starring Barbara Stanwyck, Barry Sullivan, Scott Brady, Mary Murphy, Wallace Ford, Howard Petrie, Jim Davis, John Doucette

The Maverick Queen (1956) paired Barbara Stanwyck and Barry Sullivan a year before Sam Fuller’s Forty Guns. For Republic, this was a pretty lavish picture — color, widescreen and location work in Silverton, Colorado.

”The Maverick Queen introduces Republic’s wide screen process, called Naturama.

Republic reportedly spent two years developing this anamorphic system. (Its projection aspect ratio of 2.35 to 1 is somewhat narrower than that of CinemaScope). Thus equipped, the film has plenty of room to show, in colour, and the wide open spaces of Colorado, where it was made.

It’s ironic that since its original release, Naturama has not been seen at it’s best but that’s about to change. It’s coming to Blu-Ray — from a 4K scan of the original camera negative.

Director Joe Kane: “The studio was scraping the bottom of the barrel to get a big moneymaker and they finally let me have colour and Naturama and Barbara Stanwyck… It was a real pleasure to work with a grand trouper like Barbara Stanwyck. She’d do anything.

Other films in Naturama

Other films in Naturama – not that well remembered though

Other films in Naturama

Other films in Naturama

Films in Naturama

A few weeks ago, we concentated on the Pirates along with Long John Silver who are getting nearer and nearer to the treasure and for this sequence the the location was nearby Black Park in Buckinghamshire.

Among heavy foliage and ferns, Robert Newton led his band of cut-thropats along the banks of a leaf strewn lagoon until theu fin d the pine tree described by Capatinn Flint on his map.

The filming here in Black Park on a hot summer day, provided and un-expected for a group of children from Bethnal Green who were on a camping holiday here. They were all amazed at the sight lof this band on pirates striding aroun d very near their camp – they formed an interested audience behind the camera.

Long John Silverr’s famous parrot Captain Flint came in for much attention as her perched on Robert Newton’s shoulder.

Here is Cap’n Flint ABOVE – with Bobby Driscoll in a posed still while they were filming Treasure Island.

Among the guests visiting the set this week had been Lady Tedder wife of Lord Tedder Chief of the Air Staff and Marshall of the RAF.

The Disney’s had met Lord and Lady Tedder in Hollywood during or just after the War where Walt Disney had been producing a special RAF film with their advice. They had all become fiends.

Filming of scenes of the Hispaniola under the direction of Russell LLoyd continued in and around Falmouth in Cornwall.

Walt Disney and his family had boarded ‘the Queen Elizabeth’ Liner and sailed off on their way back home in mid August – around the time that these sequences were being completed.

BELOW: Details of week ending 24 August 1949 fiming :-

I watched the end part of the 1953 British murder mystery The Large Rope this morning on Talking Pictures – it is a film that I had never seen before. It stars Donald Houston as Tom Penney, a man who is returning to his small English village after a three years in jail. He was convicted of assaulting a local married woman- Amy Jordan.

Upon his return, Tom confronts her with the accusation that she lied about him being the man who attacked her and Amy doesn’t deny it. Details are sketchy, but it seems that Tom and his best friend Jeff got drunk one night and went out to the Jordan farm. Tom isn’t sure exactly what happened on that fateful evening but knows that he didn’t hurt anyone. He also knows that Jeff never came forward and admitted that he was there as well; it eventually comes to light that Jeff (along with quite a lot of other men in town) was carrying on with Amy. 

    Tom is further upset to find that Jeff has used his three year absence in jail to pursue and become engaged to Tom’s former girlfriend Susan. Then, on the day of the wedding, Amy Jordan is found murdered.

Suspicion immediately falls on Tom because he has reason to hate her, was seen by someone when he was arguing with her, and was later witnessed getting in a scuffle with Amy’s husband Mick at the local pub.

He is taken in for questioning by the police, but then an angry mob of villagers shows up, determined to see Tom pay for Amy’s murder and he escapes in the ensuing confusion. He then comes face to face with the real murderer in an abandoned mill.  

ABOVE Susan Shaw

This film is a low budget British mystery from the 1950’s.

The performances are well above average, especially Mr. Houston, and I found this an enjoyable 70 minutes.

STARS Donald Houston, Susan Shaw, Robert Brown, Peter Byrne, Richard Warner, Vanda Godsell.

 ABOVE Susan Shaw and Donald Houston

Donadld Houston had only 3 years before this, been flown out to Fiji along with Jean Simmons to film ‘The Blue Lagoon’ in Technicolor. This one had the outdoor scenes filmed more locally in Turville a lovely remote village beloved of film makers – who could forget ‘ Went The Day Well?’ which was largely filmed here.

 ABOVE Robert Brown who would a few years later become the side-kick to Roger Moor in the ‘Ivanhoe’ television series. Robert played Gurth and much later again with Roger Moor featured in many of the Bond films.

Roger Moore and Robert Brown became lifelong friends after Ivanhoe and I suspect Roger helped Robert get some later roles

In this film he is the real ‘baddie’

ABOVE Donald Houston – THE FINAL CONFRONTATION

The film was adapted from Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel, Master of Ballantrae: , about two feuding brothers during the Jacobite Rebellion.

Very loosely based on a Robert Lewis Stevenson novel, Errol Flynn is Jamie Durrisdeer, the eldest son of a Scottish lord, who, after a coin toss, leaves to fight alongside Bonnie Prince Charlie, while his younger brother, Henry, seems to align himself with the British, in order to save their estate.

After the Scottish army is defeated, he finds himself a fugitive, allies himself with Irish mercenary Col. Francis Burke (a scene-stealing performance by Roger Livesey.)

After a reunion with his girl (Beatrice Campbell, ), Jamie awaits brother Henry’s arrival, with funds, on the coast…only to be betrayed, barely escaping with his life.

Jamie is taken onboard a waiting ship, although he is wounded, only to be told that the ship is heading for the Caribbean, not France.

Jamie becomes a successful buccaneer, and then later sets off for his home in Scotland to confront the brother who had ‘betrayed’ him…

The cinematography is by Jack Cardiff- one of the masters of his trade – so the film is visually stunning with Technicolor at it’s best – and that is about as good as it gets

It is a good film.

In this film Errol Flynn is perhaps past his best as a swashbuckler but he is still very good. On the other hand, playing his brother is Anthony Steel whose star is on the rise here. He had played starring roles in British films and had proved very successful. In this film he very much plays second fiddle to Errol Flynn – and Roger Livesey.

I remember Anthony Steel very well from a much later appearance in an epsiode of ‘Tales of the Unexpected’ – along with John Mills titled ‘ Galloping Foxley’. This was 30 years later than this film but he looked very suave, self confident and still handsome.

He did go to Hollywood later and was quite successful but he seemed to fall out of favour quite quickly – something that surprised me because he seemed to have everything that Hollywood would want for a leading man.

Roger Livesey (The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp and I Know Where I’m Going!) as Colonel Francis Burke, is splendid here and seems to enjoy himself.

ABOVE – Roger Livesey and Errol Flynn

Everyone seems to having a good time during the filming and I have seen it reported that it was an unusually happy and stress-free film, the action is exciting enough and the camaraderie between Flynn and Livesey is great.

Master of Ballantrae was the first film that Bob Anderson worked on and all the fights are choreographed by him, as in the fight between Jamie and the treacherous Captain Arnaud, with help from stunt double Flynn.

This Warner Brothers release was an Anglo-American production, shot in Scotland, England and Italy with a mostly British cast (and some great British character actors like Felix Aylmer). Having Jack Cardiff as the cinematographer certainly helped. Director William Keighley does a fine job as well.

This story of revenge, betrayal and adventure is based on the novel by Robert Louis Stevenson, a man who knew a thing or two about writing tales of adventure. Stevenson is a very underrated writer and The Master of Ballantrae is one of his most celebrated novels. The film lacks some of the complexity that Stevenson could bring to such a tale and the focus is on the straightforward revenge plot.

The film was shot in Technicolor.

Jamie Durie is the elder but wilder brother, a man who likes wine, women and gambling. Henry is the dull sensible one. Not surprisingly they’re not overly fond of one another.

The rebellion ends in disaster at Culloden and the English take their revenge on the Scottish rebels. The rebels are now being hunted down. Jamie hopes to escape to France on a smuggling ship along with an equally wild Irishman with whom he has hooked up, Colonel Francis Burke (Roger Livesy). They are betrayed to the English, Jamie blames Henry, there is a fight and somehow Jamie makes it to the ship. But his adventures and his troubles have only just begun.

Jamie has a future as a pirate but Scotland is always in his thoughts. He dreams of returning to reclaim his inheritance, and to reclaim Lady Alison. But first he must make his fortune, and piracy is a competitive business.

.

TEN TALL MEN (1951)

Typical Oriental adventure film in Morocco.

Director Willis Goldbeck’s 1951 Technicolor adventure Ten Tall Men. We just loved the Technicolor films

Here we have Burt Lancaster enjoying himself as the US sergeant, Mike Kincaid, who leads his magnificent nine friends against the marauding Riffs, commanded by the villainous Kayeed Hussein (Gerald Mohr). Kincaid kidnaps Mahla (Jody Lawrance) when he learns Hussein is planning to marry her to unite opposing tribes, and of course and Mahla is falling in love with Kincaid.

It also stars Gilbert Roland as Corporal Luis Delgado, Kieron Moore as Corporal Pierre Molier, and George Tobias as Londos.

I hadn’t known that Kieron Moore was out in Hollywood in the very early fifties but here he is. He also made another one ‘David and Bathsheba’ one of the Biblical epics of the time. Later in the fifties, he went back to Hollywood for ‘Darby O’Gill and the Little People’ – one of my favourites

He was married to the very beautiful Barbara White – I remember her in ‘Quiet Weekend’ 1946

Back to the film itself – this carefree, colourful adventure is a splendid, thoroughly entertaining showcase for the young, athletic Burt Lancaster.

.Production is by the Harold Hetch- James Hill-Burt Lancaster partnership from Norma Production that financed a lot of films , most of them starred by Burt Lancaster .

Burt Lancaster was still in his all-action period with films such as “The Flame and the Arrow”, “The Crimson Pirate” , “His Majesty O’Keefe” , “The Kentuckian”

The Sad Story of Henry was the episode of the BBC Children’s Television series which was broadcast on 14 June 1953.

It is based on the story of the same name and Edward, Gordon and Henry from The Railway Series book, The Three Railway Engines.

This would be just 12 days after the Queen’s Coronation – a memorable occasion – a marvelous and spectacular BBC Television broadcast. Wonderful and so well remembered by us all

Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends is by now one of the world’s most iconic and beloved children’s TV shows. Originally adapted from the Reverend Wilbert Awdry and his son Christopher Awdry’s Railway Series stories, the TV series began airing in 1984 and has continued in some form or another through to the 2020s. While this is certainly the most famous adaptation of the Awdrys’ train tales, it was not the first, having been preceded by a live BBC broadcast in 1953. Unfortunately, the technical difficulties associated with this adaptation would prevent a full series from being commissioned for the intervening thirty years.

In mid-1953, the BBC approached The Railway Series editor Eric Marriott and inquired about the possibility of adapting at least two stories to television. Marriott and Rev. Awdry approved the proposal on the condition that the adaptation be as faithful as possible, in particular to the authentic technical details. Thus, the broadcast was to be done using specially-modified 00 Gauge Hornby models of the actual engines pictured in the books, with a track layout and painted backdrops designed to ensure maximum faithfulness to the original illustrations. The script, however, was ‘freely adapted’ in order to fit the allotted ten-minute time slot. It was to be broadcast live from Lime Grove Studios on Sunday, June 14th, 1953.

For this initial attempt, the BBC had chosen to adapt “The Sad Story of Henry”, a suitably dramatic tale of the engine being bricked up in a tunnel after he refuses to leave it for fear of rain spoiling his new paint. The live adaptation (now renamed to “The Three Railway Engines”, presumably for viewers unfamiliar with the books) had to be put together within a month, with the custom model train setup not arriving in the studio until the final rehearsals. Not ideal for what was already a notably complex production for the time, also including superimposed rain and other effects overlaid by music and narration by Julia Lang.

On the day of the broadcast, the model movement was still said to be a bit jerky, but all started off well until one of the engines derailed, the train set operator having missed switching the points before the engine arrived at them. To the great surprise of viewers, including Marriott and Rev. Awdry, a human hand picked up the errant engine and put it back on the rails instead. It was noted that narrator Lang ‘struggled to improvise’ around the incident, but unfortunately, her actual words are not recorded.

The broadcast went on without further incident, but the derailment and its unexpected resolution attracted notice from several national newspapers. Rev. Awdry is recorded as being disappointed with many aspects of the adaptation, including the script changes (which added characters that were not in the original story), the jerky model movement and above all, the ‘elementary mistake’ of the incorrectly set points.

BBC Controller (head) of Programmes Cecil McGivern evidently agreed with the criticisms, issuing a furious memo in which he called the whole effort ‘pathetic’.^[1]

Awdry demanded guarantees that a similar blunder would not happen in the second broadcast, scheduled for June 28th. Instead, presumably thanks to the official scorn, it was put on hold and later cancelled. Although numerous attempts were made to revive the Railway Series for television, all were unsuccessful until the current series began production three decades later.